God tells us in John 1:12-13 that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ will become a child of God. We will be heirs to all that belongs to Him. We will be part of His family with all of the privileges of a family member. Can you think of anything better than that? That is awesome news.
But there is a greater proof of His love when we realize that God selected us to be forgiven
and to be His children at the beginning of time. God decided who would become a Christian
before He created us. He chose us! But scripture also teaches that we choose God. Scripture
teaches that God decided and that we also decided. We both decide. How can both be true?
Only God has that answer. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 says that God wants everyone to believe in Him.
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires
all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NASB) 1 Timothy 2:3-4
But then how do we handle John 6:37?
All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes
to Me I will certainly not cast out . . . No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent
Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day . . . And He was saying, “For this
reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from
the Father.” (NASB) John 6:37, 44, 65
These two appear to be in conflict. Only God knows how both can be true. We do not understand some things in scripture either, such as God’s being a Trinity, the virgin birth, God’s becoming a man, Jesus living His life as the God-man, how both the Holy Spirit and a human write scripture, or how to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you,” for examples. Yet, we believe these truths. The truth is simple. God selected us and we select Him.
Yet, the best news is this. God has shown His love to every saint by selecting us. |
